Chaifetz Group Launches Competition to Offer $1 Million in Follow-on Capital to Arch Grant Recipients

Arch Grants announces inaugural Chaifetz STLaunch pitch competition to win $1,000,000 equity investment from Chaifetz Group.

Arch Grants and Chaifetz Group have announced a partnership that will provide continued investments and support for St. Louis-based startups. The two organizations are introducing Chaifetz STLaunch, a competitive investment pitch event through which Chaifetz Group will make equity investments in past Arch Grants recipient companies who have remained in the St. Louis region.

The two organizations plan to kick off the partnership with the inaugural Chaifetz STLaunch investment pitch competition event in January 2019 at the Chaifetz Arena on the campus of Saint Louis University. Following the first round of the Chaifetz STLaunch pitch competition, a group of finalists will be selected to pitch for an equity investment of up to $1,000,000 from Chaifetz Group.

To be eligible for an investment through Chaifetz STLaunch, companies must be Arch Grant recipients who maintain a presence or connection to St. Louis. The goal is to build the momentum around St. Louis’ burgeoning start-up community, which is benefiting the entire region.

“Our goal is to make sure that Arch Grant recipient companies have access to the resources they need to stay in St. Louis and succeed, and follow-on investment is critical for many of them,” said Emily Lohse-Busch, Arch Grants Executive Director.

“This commitment from Chaifetz Group amplifies the impact of our unique model and represents additional investment into the St. Louis ecosystem. We’re thrilled to partner with them to better support and empower St. Louis entrepreneurs.”

In addition to the partnership, Chaifetz Group is enhancing its presence in the St. Louis region, and is seeking new investment opportunities in early- and mid-stage businesses.

Companies receiving equity investments will have access to advisors and mentors within the Chaifetz Group network, and have the opportunity to capitalize on other relationships and resources of Dr. Richard Chaifetz and Chaifetz Group, such as SLU’s Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business, Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship, and others, in addition to the myriad resources they access through the Arch Grants network.

“Chaifetz Group is incredibly excited about collaborating with Arch Grants and the announcement of Chaifetz STLaunch. St. Louis has established itself as a premier market for emerging startups across the United States, and this event will showcase the relentless talent of local entrepreneurs and their businesses,” said Ross Chaifetz, Director of Venture Capital at Chaifetz Group.

“We view this as a major stepping stone for St. Louis’ venture capital scene. Chaifetz Group’s unique experience as operators, combined with our deep financial resources and local community partners, will ensure St. Louis continues to thrive as a leading start-up ecosystem now and in the future.”

Chaifetz Group and Arch Grants see this as a meaningful first step in building a multi-year partnership between the two organizations. Outside of the Chaifetz STLaunch investment pitch competition, Chaifetz Group is committed to making additional, significant investments across multiple asset classes in the St. Louis region over the next several years.

“The partnership which Arch Grants and Chaifetz Group announced today is an exciting step in our city’s evolution into a national hub of entrepreneurship & innovation. Arch Grants has catalyzed a tremendous amount of growth in St. Louis’s startup sector through their program, and attracted many companies from all over the country to St. Louis,” said Lyda Krewson, Mayor of St. Louis.

This commitment of follow-on funding for Arch Grants companies from Chaifetz Group is just the latest feather in their cap. Founded just seven years ago, Arch Grants has had a transformative effect on our community, our city and the future economic vibrancy of our region.”

Related coverage from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Chaifetz Group, Arch Grants partner on Shark Tank-like pitch event that could land a St. Louis startup $1 million

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